
Glass JB-XJT2J&0 
Book vdXSj^S 



/ 



A BRIEF SKETCH 

—OF THE— 

LIFE A * D TIDIES 



MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS 

— OF— 



ZRZE^T- J. OOZPZEXj^irsriD.. 



SPRINGFIELD, COLORADO, 
SEPTEMBER, 1894. 



L. A. WIKOFF, Printer 



A BBIEF SKETCH 

— OF — 

THE LIPS ^USTO TIMES 
«k REV. J. COPELAND. 



I was born, according to the Family Record, July 19, 1817, in 
the t )vvn of Charlton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. My 
father, Jonathan Copeland senior, was a native of Connecticut, 
and my mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Edwards, was a 
native of Massachusetts, so I am by birth and education a Yankee. 
My parents' were also of the regular Puritan stock, my mother be- 
ing a descendant of good old Jonathan Edwards of North Hamp- 
ton Massachusetts, a man whose fame as a metaphysician, a theolo- 
gian, a preacher and a revivalist, was not only national but world 
wide. 

The Puritans of Xew England were an intelligent, upright, 
bible reading, psalm singing, God fearing, Sabbath keeping, public 
spirited, liberty loving, and patriotic class of people of whom the 
world was not worthy; who laid the foundation of the American 
Government and the American Nation on the everlasting basis of 
the Bible and Christianity. They brought to the inhospitable 
shores of Xew England, and they planted on Plymouth Rock, "a 
church without a Bishop and a nation without a Kin«j." 

Tlie Copelandsfor three generations oast have been teachers. 
My father taught for twenty consecutive winters in Connecticut 
and Massachusetts. I have taught twenty-six terms, my wife thir- 
ty, and my youngest son nine. My father Col. Jonathan Copeland 
was universally respected, and was honored by his fellow citizens, 
with various public offices in the town where lie resided. My 
mother was what might be styled a -great reader," especially of 
her bible and also of the current literature of trie day; and was 
therefore well informed on all public affairs. She was a great talk- 



2 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copdund. 

er on theology, religion and polities, and would have been glad to 
see the day when equal suffrage was accorded to women. The 
reading of the bible and family worship morning and evening, was 
a regular and permanent practice in my father's family, rarely if ev- 
er omitted, from the time of his conversion in 1331 to his death 
in 1859. We were never without a religious family newspaper, al- 
so always well supplied with the leading benevolent and philan- 
thropic and reform papers of the time. My parents were regular 
church goers. In summer's heat and winter's cold we were all, 
both old and young in our accustomed places in the sanctuary on 
Sabbath day. In the dead of winter, how often have I shivered, 
and my little feet tingled with cold, through a long Sunday service 
in the old village church, without a fire. In those days no artificial 
means of warmth was had except a foot stove with coals and hot 
ashes upon which the women of the family could set their feet. 

Well do I remember too, how we often wended our way in the 
family wagon in the dark, through the mud and ruts, and over the 
hubs, to the Thursday evening prayer meeting 

In the year 1831 occurred one of the greatest revivals with 
which our country has ever been blessed. During that revival, my 
father, my two sisters and myself, then in my fourteenth year, were 
led to consecrate ourselves to the service of God, and united 
with the Congregational Church, of Sherburne, Chenango County, 
New York. We .stood up in the aisles of the large church with 140 
others, and took upon us the vows of everlasting allegiance to God 
and his cause and kingdom on earth. Ever since then, by the 
Grace of God I have honestly tried to embrace and follow the 
truth, wherever found, in consequence of which I have rec'.eved 
many a hard knock, and passed through many a severe trial. 

At first, and for many years, I was excessively timid, and 
could hardly get courage enough to speak in public, and had the 
suggestion then have been made that I become a minster of Christ's 
Gospel, I should have instinctively shrank from it. That revival 
however, brought scores of young men and boys into the church, 
and eventually into the gospel ministry. Six young men from the 
Sherburne church, as the fruits of it, afterwards studied for the 
ministry; viz J. W. Fox, Hiram W. Lee, Shubael Carver, Milton 



Life and 'Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 3 

Lathrop, Wm. Robinson and myself. Milton Lathrop, a most ami- 
able and lovely young man, died of consumption before finishing 
his studies. Another, Wm. Robinson, entered the ministry but 
died young in Auburn New York. A young lady also, Miss Ame- 
lia Newton, became a foreign missionary to the East Indias. The 
revival also gave a powerful impetus to the Temperance reform, and 
may be said to have inaugurated the great anti-slavery agitation 
which for thirty years shook the nation from center to circumfer- 
ence, culminating in the emancipation of four million of African 
slaves. In the fall of 1833, at the age of 1G, my father sent me to 
the Oneida Institute-, located at Whitesboro, four miles west of 
Utica New York, to commence a course of liberal study, with a 
possible view to the Gospel ministry. 

The Oneida Institute was in many respects a remarkable Insti- 
tution of learning. As I have already said, it was an outgrowth of 
the great revivals of 1831, the most of its leading students being 
converts of that revival, and burning with zeal and enthusiasm to 
enter the ministry. It was thus pre-eminently a christian insti- 
tution. It struck out a new course of study substituting the orig- 
inal Hebrew and Greek, the Bible itself, the great immortal class- 
ic, the wi kings of such authors as David, the sweet Psalmist of Is- 
rael, of Solomon, the wisest of men, of Isaiah, whose writings for 
elegance, beauty and sublimity have never been excelled in ancient 
or modern times, of John and Paul and of Jesus Christ himself, for 
the corrupt works of Latin and Greek heathen authors, whose writ- 
ings need to be revised and many parts expunged, to tit them for 
the eyes of pure and virtuous readers. 

It is most astonishing to me that even to the present day in 
nearly if not all our popular educational institutions the old Latin and 
Greek Classics, with all their heathen Mythology, and their moral 
corruption should be placed before the susceptible minds of our 
youth, to the almost utter exclusion of the noble, the pure, the 
beautiful, and the sublime classics of Holy writ. 

Regular, systematic, daily manual labor was one of the distin- 
guishing features of the Oneida Institute. The founders of that in- 
stitution recogonized the fact, that the body as well as the mind 
needs vigorous and abundant exercise, as a condition of health and 



4 Life and Time* of Hev. J. Copeland. 

development. The body and mind are so correlated to each other 
that they mutually and powerfully affect each other. The great 
and fatal mistake in educational work has been to exercise the 
brain excessively at the expense of the muscles. Thousands of 
wrecked and ruined bodies scattered along the highways of science 
in all ages of the world, attest the truth of this statement. To 
obviate this great and fatal mistake, the Oneida Institute was estab- 
lished on the principle of combining manual with mental labor. 
A large farm was connected with or rather was apart of the Insti- 
tution, which was worked entirely by the students, with an over- 
seer to direct their labor... There were also shops for mechanical 
labors, and a printing office, also a large garden for the cultivation 
of vegetables. The students went out in companies at regular 
hours. They were familiarly called by saucy boys, "onion grub- 
bers." One of the students, while walking along the towpath of 
the Erie canal, which ran near the Institute was met by a boy who 
cried out '-Onion Grubber! 11 The student seized the urchin and 
pitched him into the canal. Such was the spirit and pluck of the 
Oneida boys. 

The experience of the President, Rev. Beriah Green, was a fir 
commentary or illustration of the value of manual labor in relation 
to health. The president at one period of his student life, had 
been entirely prostrated by over brain work. lie could not endure 
study for a minute at a time, lie entirely recovered his health ai <1 
capacity for study in the following way: lie would go alternately 
from his desk to the wood pile. As he expressed it he would study 
until a voice from within cried out -'to the wood pile!' 1 Thus lie 
went on gradually increasing the time spent at each occupation, un- 
til at length he was rewarded by the return of health and strength. 
None can imagine the joy lie felt when he became able to study an 
hour a day. 

About the time I became connected with the Institute, a book 
was published by Theodore D. Weld, a former student, entitled, 
"The Testimony of a Thousand Witnesses," on which he compiled 
a multitude of Testimonals of literary persons, showing the value 
of manual labor in connection with, study, also the evils of the want 
of it. Our beloved president frequently urged upon, the students, 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 5 

and expatiate upon, not only the utility, but the dignity and nobil- 
ity of honest toil. He would tell ua that the hard and calloused 
hand, the strong and muscular arm, the stalwart frame, and the 
bronzed face, though clad in homespun cloth of "hodden gray" 
were truer marks of gentility, than the pale face, the taper or lily 
finders, the attenuated form and the flaccid muscles, though clad in 
finest silk or broadcloth of the most fashionable styles, and graced 
with titles and the insignia of aristocracy. Our regular term was 
40 weeks of continuous study. We had no need of vacations, for 
we took one every day. When I graduated at the age of 20, I was 
stronger, more athletic, and more able to wield the ax, the wood- 
saw, the hoe, or the scythe, or to follow the plow, than at the age of 
16, when I began study. I have followed up manual labor, more or 
less through life, and now at the age of 77, I am free from any of 
the common ailments of literary men. I can walk if need be, 
twenty or twenty-five miles a day, with slight fatigue. I have 
great respect and great sympathy for the sons of toil. They are the 
bone and sinew of society, the honest yeomanry; they are the stuff of 
which many of the greatest and best menare made. Christ, the son 
of God, and the Lord of Glory, was a carpenter, and Paul a tent mak- 
er. All the apostles were laboring men. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 
Moses and David were shepherds. Washington, Lincoln, Garfield 
and Grant, and hosts of other great and good men were from the 
ranks of common laborers, Christ, in washing the diciples feet, 
put his foot upon that shoddy nobility which scorns or despises 
homely toil, or any necessary menial service. Xo work that is use- 
ful is degrading. Useful labor is noble Christlike and Divine. It 
is the true aristocracy of the millennium and of heaven. 

Another feature of the Oneida Institute was physical and dietetic 
reform. The first night I spent at the Institute, I shall never for- 
get. I slept with one of the elder students an old friend of mine. 
Our bed was what was playfully called, "the soft side of a pine 
board." I tossed on this bed from night till morning but could not 
sleep. "Well," remarked my chum, "this is a softer bed than our 
Savior had to sleep on," an assertion I much doubted. I think 
however, most of those who adopted this ascetic kind of bed aband- 
ed it after a time. Dietetic reform was carried out to some extent at 



J^ife coid Times of Ilev. J. Copekmd. 

Oneida, although there was no compulsion in that matter. Nearly all 
the students boarded in a common hall, which accommodated about 
120 boarders. I boarded in the hall nearly four years. There were 
two tables, at one of which no animal food was furnished, and no 
desserts provided. The majority of the students boarded at this 
table. No tea or coffee was allowed at either table. Our uniform 
suppers at both tables the year round, was plain, bread and milk. 
On this very plain and simple "diet, the students uniformly enjoyed 
good health and sickness or death rarely occurred, 

But that which mostdistingushed this institution a half century 
ago, was its position on the slavery question, and its treatment of 
the colored man. Slavery was then in its palmiest days, in the 
very zenith of its power. It controlled the church and na- 
tion. It was in fact the great American idol, before 
which all men, with but few exceptions bowed with the most 
obsequious homage. The colored man was universally despised, 
and treated as asocial outcas f . As Judge Taney, then Chief Just- 
ice of the Supreme Court of the United States, asserted "A negro 
has no rights that a white man is bound to respect." But at Onei- 
da the true science of humanity was taught and practiced. We 
were taught the doctrine of the universal brotherhood of man, irre- 
spective of race, color or condition. Colored students were received 
into the institution, recited in the same classes and ate at the same 
table with the white students. And this was at a time when the 
doors of nearly all the schools in the land were bolted and bir • 1 
against them, when it was a criminal offense in a slave state t ■ 
teach a colored person to read, and when Prudence Crandal!, a 
christian lady, in the state of Connecticut, was thrown into jail for 
being guilty of that offense. In short Oneida Institute was known 
as a radical abolition school, and one of the first schools in the land 
in full sympathy with the colored race. Our President, Rev. Beriah 
Green was one of the most ear est and eloquent of the pioneers, and 
champions of the anti-slavery cause. In October 183 3, a meeting 
was held in the city of Utiea New York, four miles east of the in- 
stitute, in the Presbyterian church, for the purpose of organizing 
the New York Anti-Slavery Society. This meeting the students 
attended almost in a body. The meeting was however broken up 



Life and Times of Rev. J. CopelOnd. T 

by a mob, composed of men of the most respectable and influential 
character. The members of the convention were driven from the 
city, and as they rode through the streets were pelted with eggs 
by row.lv boys set on by men in satin and broadcloth. They were 
invited to remove the meeting to Peterboro, a rural village about 
.30 miles distant, where resided Garrit Smith, the great, the good, 
the christian, the philanthropic millionaire. Mr; Smith, was 
then a patron of the American Colonization Society. He at once 
paid the $3000 subscribed to that society, and transferred li is benev- 
olence to Anti Slavery. He lived and died an earnest and eloquent 
friend and champion of human rights. Oneida Institute did a great and 
grand work, though far in advance of the age in all branches of reform. 
As Oberlin and other institutions of like character arose Oneida de- 
clined and finally failed for want of support, but though dead, its 
soul like John Brown's body is still marching on. The goodly 
number of young men from that school who entered the ministry, 
have done earnest, successful work forthe Master. The majority of 
them have entered into rest, a few still survive. 

I will revert for a moment to my father's family. Our house 
became the favorite resort or rather home of travelling preachers, 
lecturer* and agents of benevolent societies. This brought us as a 
family into intimate acquaintance and close sympathy with some 
of the best men, to whom our c nintry owes a deb: of gratitude. 
We always felt it not only a duty, but a privilege to entertain good 
men, who might prove "angels unawares,"' and also that we were 
rather indebted to them, than they to us. My father's hou-e was a 
depot of the underground railroad which transported fugitives from 
bondage to freedom. We believed in the higher law of allegiance 
to God and humanity, and felt it our duty to trample on the fugi- 
tive Slave Law then in vigorous operation. I will take occasion 
here to make honorable mention of a few of the leading reformers 
of Sherburne. Wm. W. Chapman, who married my youngest sister 
was one of the foremost. She died suddenly after a brief and hap- 
py union of one year, and he never ceased to mourn her loss and ex- 
tol her virtues. My eldest sister married Rev. J. W. Fox, who is 
still living after a long and very useful life, at the advanced age of 
84 wars. My eldest sister died about one year ago, universally re- 



8 Life and Times, of Rev. J. Copelaiut 

spected, beloved and mourned. 

After graduating at Oneida, I went to Oberlin to study Theol- 
ogy, where I sat for three years at the feet of that greater than 
Gamaliel, greater than Dr. of Divinity, Rev. Charles G. Finney, 
who never allowed himself to wear any more honorable title than 
<: Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ." Mr. Finney and Oberlin have 
become so well known in this country, that I need not dwell at any 
length upon their peculiarites. Revivals, reforms and the higher 
christian life were the prominent features of Oberlin, it also being 
one of the first colleges in the land that adopted and carried out 
the coeducation of the sexes. From the first, young ladies and 
gentlemen were received into the Institution, belonged to the same 
classes, ancT boarded in the same common hall. The influence of 
this arrangement was most happy in every respect. Its influence 
was to promote virtue, good order peace and harmony in the col- 
lege and community, to refine and polish the manners and to develope 
full-fledged, noble character in each. Oberlin aimed to raise up and 
send forth into the world christian scholars, educated physically, in- 
tellectually, morally and religiously. It has sent forth thousands of 
faithful christian workers, some in all the different professions cal- 
lings and avocations of life, to flood the west and help fill the land 
with true christian science and literature. 

While a student at Oberlin I listened to a course of lectures 
on the subject of "Medical Reform,'' 1 by Dr. Isaac Jennings, an eld- 
erly physician, who had been an eminent and successful practi- 
tioner of medicine in the state of Connecticut. He had a philo- 
sophical, investigating mind, was always inquiring the reasons of 
things. He wanted to know why medicine cured disease, but could 
never satisfy himself, lie finally began to suspect that it did not 
cure; that the cure was not real, only apparent; a mere temporary 
alleviation, not at all permanent. He began to practice according to 
his idea by diminishing the quantity of medicine given, and to his 
astonishment he found that the less medicine lie gave the more 
good it did. He kept diminishing his doses until he reduced them 
to nothing. He practiced several years giving sham medicines, 
such as bread pills, powders made of flour, and pure water for 
drops slightly tinctured so as to give color, smell, and a little taste. 



Lift and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 9 

In pursu'ng this mode of treatment be bad the most unbounded 
success, and became wonderfully popular. In one case he was call- 
ed to visit a patient forty miles from home, in another county. 
The patient had a ven severe attack of pleurisy. He found that 
the disease had very nearly reached its crisis and that there would 
soon be a change for I he better or worse. After sitting a few min- 
utes he went out to the well and filled an empty vial with cold wa- 
ter from the bucket. lie left this vial with directions just how 
nianv drops v> take, and how often, with a few other simple direc- 
tions as to diet etc., and left. The effect of his medicine was mag- 
ical. '"It went right to the spot," as he was informed afterward**. 
That was one of hundreds of similar cv'n es of wonderful cures. These 
lectures the Dr. afterward published in a book entitled "Medical Re- 
forai'Vhich I bought and studied with much care. His theory was that 
what we call disease is but the efforts of nature to throw off disease 
Nature is the great Physician, the great recuperative powei, and 
the only recuperative Power. If nature can rally, and throw off 
the disease the patient will recover, if not he will die. Most medi- 
cines are poison and only poison, and it is not in the nature of pois- 
on to cure disease. You might as well throw on fuel to put out a 
fire, or water to kindle it. Medicine does not even assist nature 
but is in itself' one of the most potent causes of disease. It has 
numbered its victims by thousands of millions. Before leaving 
that country the Dr. honestly gave to the public the facts concern- 
ing his practice but was still patronized largely. "We want oar 
old Dr., medicine or no medicine," was the language of many. 

Oberlin carried out dietetic reform much more fully than Onei- 
da. Toe boarding hall at one time was under the supervision of 
Mr. P. P. Stewart and also of Danhd Campbell, both strict disciples 
of Sylvestor Graham, the father of the so called Graham System of 
living. I b >arded three years in the family of Levi Burifell, Treas- 
urer of the Institution. The family partly from necessity, and 
partly from principle adopted and adhered quite rigidly to the Gra- 
ham System, continuing it for many years, and I can bear testi- 
mony that sickness was unknown in the family, whereas under 
the old system of mixed diet, with tea, coffee, animal food and 
condiments, they had sickness in the family every vear. They had 



10 Life and Times of Rev. ./. Copelund. 

eight children. I might fill this entire book with facts which I 
have learned from observation and experience, on the general sub- 
ject of the Laws of Life. 1 am a crank on that theme, but I pass on 
to other points. 

Oberlin like Oneida was the staunch friend of the colored race 
admitting colored students to all the rights and privileges, individ- 
ual, social, educational, political and religious which are claimed 
for the white man. Many a forlorn and fleeing fugitive from the 
boasted land of American liberty, was there taken in, kindly cared 
for, pointed to the North Star, and sent on his way rejoicing, to 
liberty and freedom. 

But the most distinguishing feature of Oberlin, was its simple 
scriptural, common-sense theology and its advocacy of the doctrine 
of the Higher Christian Life. I cannot give here even a con- 
densed statement of the Oberlin theology. I can only refer to 
Finney's "Systematic Theology" in two large octavo volumes, and 
to the published writings of Mahan, Cowles, Fairchilds and other 
leaders connected with Oberlin College and Theological Seminary. 
In regard to the higher Christian life T would say, that while the 
praetibility of entire sanctification was taught in the class room 
and from the pulpit, I never heard any one positively profess t<> 
have attained to that state. Numbers would tell from time to 
time what great things God had done for them, and that they 
were not living in a state of condemnation, but were at peace with 
God, and free from a sense of sin in the sight of God. Every re- 
citation was commenced with prayer. Revivals were common at 
Oberlin. Special efforts were made for the conversion of the stu- 
dents as early as possible in their literary course. If converted at all 
during their connection with the Institution, it was usually during 
the first year. It' they passed on a year or two unconverted, they 
became hardened in sin and seldom became christians at all. Many 
of the advanced college and theological students received baptisms 
which were equivalent to a second conversion, and had a christian 
experience altogether unknown and undreamed of before. Such large 
accessions of spiritual life were frequently received as to lead the 
subjects to conclude that they had hitherto been entirely destitute 
of it. Said Brother C. one Sabbath morning as he came .into 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 1 1 

prayer meeting "Brethern, I have been living in the 7th of Romans, 
but now thank God I have got into the 8th." He had been walk- 
ing in spiritual darkness, and living in spiritual bondage, wretched- 
ness and despair. The language of his heart being, "when I would 
do good, evil is present with me. Oh wretched man that I am, 
who shall deliver me from the body of this death." 

Brother P. had been wonderfully blessed, and had learned 
the true secret of spiritual life and spiritual power viz: simple faith 
in Jesus as a personal, justifying, sanctifying and Almighty Savior. 
One day I asked him to lone me a copy of Baxter's "Saints Rest" 
which he owned. As he handed it to me he said "Brother C. 
Christ is the Saints Rest." 

Brother B. was a thorough student, but had got into the dark and 
given up his Christian hope, and he even gave up the thought of ev- 
er entering the ministry. He packed his trunk and was about leav- 
ing the Instiution when it occurred to him that he ought to thank 
God for what he had done for him. He knelt to thank God and as 
he did so, he began to trust when light broke in upon his mind, and 
from that hour he went on his way rejoicing. 1 relate these in- 
stances as specimens of the power of the gospel in trsnsforming 
the heart and life, which was a common experience at Oberlin, 
during its early history and while I was connected with the Institu- 
tion'. 

I spent two winter vacations during my theological course of 
study at Oberlin, in teaching and missionary labors, among the col- 
ored people. The first was in southern Ohio, in a colony composed 
of families that had formerly been in slavery, and the second 
in Canada near Detroit. I need not say that the more I associated 
with, and labored for the colored race the more I became interest- 
ed in, and attached to them. While they have some vices, the re- 
sults of slavery, they have many amiable traits of character, so 
that in the words of a missionary for more than twenty years in 
Africa they are "the most loving and lovable people on the globe.'* 

My school in Ohio was more like one long holiday than a 
school. The leading family in the settlement was one of the most 
remarkable families I ever knew. There were five sons, the young- 
est of whom was nearly grown to manhood. Thev were all mod- 



12 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 

el young men. They mastered the common brandies as easily as a 
child handles his toys. They were so exemplary that the school 
.heeded scarce any discipline. Their example ar>d influence pro- 
duced good order. Knowing the slackness of many of the colored 
peopMJ anticipated some trouble in collecting my pay at the close 
of my school, but on the last day every cent was handed in without 
.the slightest effort of mine. No doubt this was done by the en- 
• ergy. of these young men of whom I have spoken. One or two an- 
ecdotes will further illustrate the character of this family. The 
father had been a slave in Kentucky. He and his family lived on 
neighboring plantations. He always spent the Sabbath with his 
family. The rule of the plantation was that every slave must be in 
place on Monday morning at the ringing of the bell or stand up 
and take a flogging. But one Monday morning, Tom over slept 
and was aplittle late. He was ordered by the overseer to take off 
his coat: and stand up to be flogged. He buttoned up his coat, fold- 
ed his arms and looked the master calmy but sternly and defiantly 
in the face saying, by looks and actions "strike me if you dare." 
The blows were not struck and he was ordered to go to his work. 
This was the nearest he ever came to being flogged. Had a blow 
been struck he would have sprung like a tiger upon the master, and 
a tragedy have been enacted upon the plantation. One of the sons 
once told me that there was but one thing for which he would 
knock a man down, add that was for calling him "a nigger" He 
considered that a term of derision and contempt, equivalent to a 
good for nothing, worthless fellow. Such was the character of 
these noble men. Oh shame upon all who ignore or despise them. 
This family named Woodson were acknowledged to be the best 
farmers in that county. They owned a large farm of 400 acres of 
good land well fenced, cultivated and stocked. It was in every re- 
spect a model farm. 

On the 3rd of September of that year, 1844 I was married to 
my beloved wife, at the residence of President (J. G. Finney of 
Oberlin who was her uncle, and with whom she had a home and 
parental care during the years she spent in study at that Institution, 
five in all, and let me say here I have never had the least reason to 
regret my choice. After our marriage we spent some time at my 



Life and Times of Mev. J. Coptiand. 13 

lather's in Sherburne, New York. I think it was the first Sabbath 
after our arrival in Sherborne that I was invited by the Pastor of 
the Congregational church, to sit with hint in the pulpit in the afier- 
noon, and to preach in the evening. In my prayer I prayed for the 
slave. At that point an old gray headed man and a member of the 
church was inspired to whistle. In the evening I preached from 
the text "Ichabod the glory is departed," and at a certain point in 
the sermon two of the members got up and stalked out of the house, 
slamming the door after them. No doubt in my youth and inex- 
perience I was imprudent to introduce the vexed question into the 
pulpit, but at that time the whole nation was in commotion, seeth- 
ing and boiling with political excitement and the minister stood 
between two tires, sure to give offense to one or the other "of the 
existing parties. If he neglected to speak out against slavery he 
was thought cowardly and conservative, and if he did speak there 
was an immediate "Tempest in the Tea Pot." 

I entered upon my ministerial work in the spring of 1845 when 
the churches were rent with divisions and when there was scarcelv 
a church to be found united upon the slavery question. I had been 
educated at two radical schools, Oneida and Oberlin, and was there. 
fore liable to both accusations, abolitionist and Oberlin perfection- 
ist which were looked upon by the majority of the churches and 
ecclesiastical bodies as foul errors and damnable heresies. The 
Atmosphere of the nation seemed to be surcharged with electricity 
both positive and negative and it was only necessary to bring the 
opposite poles of the battery together to produce an explosion. 
The Halls of Congress thundered with the mighty eloquence of 
such champions of freedom as Joshua R. Giddings, Charles Sum- 
ner, Thaddeus Stevens, John P. Hale, W. H. Seward, Edward Wade 
and many others, while the pulpit, the platform and the press, kept 
the agitation seething, boiling and ignited to a white heat. It was 
in the midst of such an excitable state of the public mind that I 
entered the ministry. I have sat for years at the feet of Charles G. 
Finny, the great moral Elijah of his time, slaying Baal's prophets 
without mercy on the right hand and on the left, crying aloud and 
sparing not but showing the people their transgressions and the 
House of Israel their sins. I was folly imbued and enthused with 



14 Life and Times, of Rev. J. Copeland. 

the spirit of the times and worldly wisdom and prudence were vir- 
tues not much cultivated by Reformers fifty years ago. 

My first field of ministerial labor was with the congregational 
Church of Lebanon, Madison County in central New York. That 
being my first field of labor I tried to do my very best, I studied 
hard and prepared my sermons with much care, writing copious 
matter, partly reading and partly extemporizing my sermons. My 
congregations, I believe were interested and edified. I spent my 
mornings in my study, and my afternoons usually in visiting the 
people. I found the church divided into two hostile factions, the 
anti-slavery and pro-slavery, so called. Two of the leading mem- 
bers, one a deacon (Mr. C.) and the other a trustee of the church 
had recently seceded on account of slavery and stood outside the 
church, although they attended public worship and gave their sup- 
port to the ministry as before. The church was connected with the 
Oneida Association but the majority felt hampered and crippled by 
the connection on account of the conservative character of that 
body. The Association, true to their instincts as heresy-hunters 
had set a trap for the purpose of catching and beheading any strag- 
gler from Oberlin who might find his way into their ecclesiastical 
fold. They had appointed a commitee whose duty it was to ex- 
amine any minister coming among them from abroad in regard to 
his theology, and such minister was required to appear before this 
committee after preaching not over three Sabbaths in any church. 
I was advised by the deacons whom I consulted, to pay no atten- 
tion to this committee as they would be sure to send me adrift if I 
did so. The church considered itself competent to decide on such 
matters for themselves, without ecclesiastical interference. I did 
as they advised. After laboring about six months I felt moved to 
preach a sermon on the sinfulness of American Slavery. The ser- 
mon was prepared with great care and research and was written 
out in full. It was listened to with the deepest attention by the 
audience. At the close of the sermon one of the deacons who was 
not in sympathy with me on the subject, publicly requested me to 
preach from the text "Servants obey your Masters." I accepted, as 
I regarded it a challenge and the next Sabbath preached showing 
that neither the Old nor New Testament justified American Slavery 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copelund. 1 5 

but both condemed it. I was then requested to preach on some 
other branch of the subject and preached in all five sermons on five 
consecutive Sabbaths. In doing this I followed Mr. Pinny's advice 
to his students, that when the public mind is thoroughly aroused 
on any moral subject, to preach on that subject until you have ex- 
hausted it. By this time as a matter of course the 
minds of the people were wrought up to the highest 
pitch of excitement. Everything was ripe for an ex- 
plosion and the explosion came and on this wise: at a regular 
church meeting held about this time a motion was made and car- 
ried that the church withdraw from the association. They did not 
wish to be hampered with iron clad rules which abriged their christ- 
ian liberty. They wished to become an independent Congregation- 
al church and supposed they had a right to do so. The Association 
was notified of the action of the church. They at once called a 
special meeting of the body to demand the reason of the action of 
the church. The Association met at the church in Lebanon. The 
church was requested to give the reasons for withdrawing. The 
reasons were briefly stated by the Pastor. Thereupon the Associ- 
ation drew up a set of resolutions in which they asserted that the 
majority of the church in withdrawing from the Assocation had se- 
ceded from the church and that the minority were the church en- 
titled to all the property, that the pulpit was vacant. The present 
incumbent among other things being a graduate of Oberlin, teach- 
ing the heretical doctrine of Oberlin perfectionism. The two factions 
contended until I feared the cause of Christ would suffer reproach 
by such quarreling and I peaceably retired. After I vacated the 
pulpit the Methodists and Universalists offered me the use of their 
churches. Previous to my leaving however, the Assocation sent a 
man to fill the pulpit and the contest depended upon which should 
get possession first. This state of things I think went on over two 
Sabbaths, although conscious of being in the right 1 yielded feel- 
ing it better to suffer wrong than to do wrong. After this I 
preached a few months to three different churches. They were all 
free or independent Congregational churches. One was the free 
church of Sherburne of which my parents were members. This 
was the largest and strongest of all the free churches in that region. 



16 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 

It numbered 70 members, the cream of the large Sherburne church 
which divided on account of the same differences, as existed in 
Lebanon. They built a new and commodious house of worship 
which Rev. J. W. Fox was the first to occupy as pastor. These 
free churches of which there were several in central Xew York did 
not exist but a few years, but they did their work and stood the 
storms bravely and heroically of those stormy times. 

In the spring of 1846 I removed to Genessee County Michigan 
near the city of Flint. There I found two Presbyterian churches 
destitute of a pastor. I labored with them very pleasantly and ac- 
ceptably for several months, and they invited me to become their 
pastor. About that time the Presbytery met at Flint of which 
Rev. George Duffield D. D. of Detroit was the leading spirit. I was 
cordially invited to attend which I did. A few questions were 
asked me bringing out the fact that 1 was a graduate of Oberlin. 
This was enough for the Presbytery to know. On the next Sab- 
bath I went to my appointment as usual, but found that the emis- 
saries of Presbytery had proceeded me, peremtorily demanding 
that the churches dismiss me at once. One of them complied but 
the other determined to keep me and applied for aid from the 
Home Missionary Society. But this application for aid was ig- 
nored, no notice of it being taken, and I was again adrift upon a 
stormy sea to shift for myself as best I could. Among other trials 
in Michigan I had my first experience with the malarial fevers of 
the west, and from which I suffered much during that fall ami 
winter. In the spring we left for the hills of central Xew York, 
where it was thought by many that I had gone back to die. I 
soon however recovered my usual health and was ready to recom- 
mence the battle of life. 

In the spring of 1847 we went to labor with the Congregation- 
al church in North Guilford Chenango County New York. The 
first year passed very pleasantly. We had an interesting revival. 
I was assisted by Rev. J. W. Fox in a series of meetings. One re- 
sult of that revival was that I received a fresh baptism of the Spir- 
it getting clearer and more satisfactory and soul quickening 
views of the relations of Christ to the believer than I had ever had 
before during my whole religious history. I was greatly quickened 



Lift and Tunes of Rev. J. Copeland. 17 

if] love and zeal and inspired to do all I could to spread the glori- 
ous gospel of the Son of God through the earth. I had a great de- 
sire to become a foreign missionary having Siam in ray mind as a 
field of labor. After investigation by the committee it was decid- 
ed that the health of my wife would not endure that climate and 
the idea was abandoned. 

That year, 1843, was a presidential election year, and of course 
a year of great political exeiteraent. I belonged to the Liberty Par- 
ty. The leading deacon of that church was a rabid politician and 
had taken the ground that he would not sustain a minister who 
would introduce politics into the pulpit. This fact I well knew, 
but just before election I felt it a duty to preach on the subject of 
Civil Government, showing that we ought to vote for good men 
for civil rulers. The sermon was scriptural and temperate in its 
tone, made no attacks upon any party or individual. But such was 
the rancour and bitterness of the deacon that he at once set to work 
to unsettle me, which he did in toe middle of the second year. 

In the spring of 1849 we removed to Munnsville, Madison 
County New York. There was no organized church there but a 
good church edifice somewhat out of repair. We organized an inde- 
pendent Congregational church, unconnected with any ecclesiastic- 
al body neither asking i:or receiving aid from any missionary Society 
Of course our salary was limited and my wife proposed to teach a 
few scholars in a small room in our house. These we had no dif- 
icultv in obtaining. Soon however, the school increased to such 
an extent as to demand ray services and larger accommodations. 
We purchased a two-story house, removed the partitions and threw 
the front upper rooms into a coraraodius school room. Our school 
gradually assumed the proportions of a large high school for boarding 
and day scholars. The great popularity of the school filled our 
li >use with boarders, and drew in a large proportion of the youth 
of ihe surrounding region. All this time I preached on the Sab- 
bath and taught during the week. Xow came a trial and question 
for dicision which tried our mettle, and put our principles to a 
severe test. It was the application of a colored girl for admission 
to the school. Our school was large and prosperous, to have it 
now broken up seemed dreadful. Would it hurt the school? We 



1-8 TAfe and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 

did not know but the girl was bright and promising and needed an 
education. After much painful reflections we decided to take her 
and run the risk, trusting God for the consequences. On the day 
she arrived and before introducing her into the school room, my 
wife addressed the school thus: I wish to speak to the school, and 
especially the boys, who I believe will show themselves men., and 
I trust noble-minded men. We have admitted a colored girl to 
this school, and we want you all to make her welcome and treat her 
well. She has come and will be soon introduced to you. She is a 
lady and wants an education. Let us all try to make her feel at 
home. We then brought her in and never was a scholar more 
kindly received or . made more welcome than she, and she be- 
came at length a general favorite. The girls, or young ladies 
would sit in her lap, put their arms around her neck, and chat 
seeming oblivious of the fact that she was black. I afterwards at 
her request prepared two lectures, one entitled "Capability of the 
Colored Race" and the other "Prejudice against Color." These 
lectures she delivered to large and delighted audiences, accompa- 
nied by plantation songs in her own sweet voice. Her aim was to 
pay off a mortgage on her father's home, which 1 trust she accom- 
plished. 

Another of ourscholars in that school was II. O. Armour, then 
in the prime of young manhood, lie was a fine scholar, his man- 
ners were pleasing, his bearing independent and noble, with a 
pleasant expression of countenance and exemplary manners, he stood 
high in the estimation of his teachers and the school. Little how- 
ever did we then think with his modest unassuming ways that he 
would ever become one of the merchant princes of our country and 
the world. He is, I believe the eldest of the firm of Armour Broth- 
ers, the great packing. company of world-wide renoun. His par-, 
ents resided in the vicinity. There were four sons, of whom but 
three are now living. H. O. of New York, P. D. of Chicago and 
L. B. of Kansas City Missouri. This great firm of Armour Broth- 
ers with their extensive business is so well known throughout the 
country, that I need not enlarge. 

Munnsville enjoyed, during our residence there, an interesting 
revival of religion in which cur school participated and some of our 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Cope&and. 19 

geholars were converted. No special efforts were made but the Di- 
vine influence came down like the gentle evening dew. We re- 
mained in Munnsville five years and our sehool continued to flourish 
and enlarge. 

In the spring of 1854 the trustees of the Peterboro Aeadamy 
about Ave miles distant offered us the use of their tine building, 
free of charge if we would remove our school to that place. Peter- 
boro was the home of the great and good Gerrit Smith and his 
son and grandsons were among our pupils. We accepted the offer 
and had there a full and very flourishing school numbering at one 
time 120 scholars. Besides myself and wife we employed two as- 
sistant teachers, also a music teacher which we employed constantly 
in both places. Our piano was sometimes running from five o'clock 
in the morning until nine at night. We paid special attention to 
elocution. My wife excelled as an elocutionist and had the train- 
ing of our pupils in nearly all our sentimental recitations. Besides 
the boys and girls of the school, I suppose she has prepared a hun- 
dred young men for the stage with never a failure. We had dia- 
logues with, atone time, thirty characters, which were acted so im- 
pressively and naturally as to bring tears to the eyes of strongheart- 
ed men. We gave a public entertainment or exhibition once a 
year on a large scale, sometimes devoting two evenings to the ex- 
ercises. Our largest churches were always tilled to overflowing. 
We usually commenced work for the exercises about six or seven 
weeks previous to the close of the term, doing most of the work 
■out of school hours. We trained our pupils to speak so audibly, so 
distinctly, so deliberately and so forcibly as to be heard with ease 
through the large church. Our last rehearsels during two or three 
days previous to the entertainment, were in the place where they 
were to speak, and we stationed ourselves at the remotest part of 
the room and required the speakers to make us hear every word, 
sometimes allowing noise which we expected them to overcome with 
their voices. In this way the young men never failed, and young 
ladies were distinctly heard. Some of our best speakers were ladies. 
We seldom had any prompting. We taught four years. I took 
classes into recitation rooms while ray wife remained in the main 
room with 100 scholars, teaching and keeping order. Mine was the 



20 Life and Times of Rev. J. Coptlaud. 

pleasantest work although I took the most complicated branches, 
such as required uninterrupted attention. The tug of war in teach- 
ing is the government of the school. But she was equal to the 
emergency. She was a perfect disciplinarian. She governed with 
the most perfect ease. There was never a boy too strong or too stub- 
born for her to handle or control. She never had the slightest fear 
which could be seen by the eye, and if necessary she could take a 
youngster by the foretop and lead him around as meek as a lamb. 
She seldom however had to resort to sucli measures as the boys re- 
spected her and were frequently heard to say "they would not light 
a woman." Stillness, order and implicit obedience characterized 
her schools and yet the scholars loved her none the less, but all the 
more for her strictness. This work however affected the health of 
my wife and in the spring of 1856 with much regret we left off 
teaching and removed to Kansas and settled on a claim near Topeka. 
This was about the beginning of the Border Ruffian war. The 
struggle was hot and violent between the Free State Party and the 
opposition. Party spirit ran high and murders were frequent. 
We felt unsafe and no Free State man knew at what hour he 
might be slain. During those fearful times we were warned by 
some of our neighbors that my life was in danger. They said I 
was spotted, i. e. marked out as a black abolition preacher. (Ab- 
olitionist was a name they gave to all eastern men) and we left in 
the night for Topeka for protection. The next day the ruffians 
came to sack the neighborhood but we with our effects were gone 
and the neighborhood deserted. After seeing my family safely quar- 
tered in Topeka, I immediately returned for my cow which we could 
not remove in the night, and was detained somewhat. Our friends be- 
came anxious and started a posse in pursuit of me, which I met and 
got I back to Topeka safe and sound. My parents however received 
word that I was killed and were for several days in suspense. 
While at Topeka I joined a militia company, assisted in building a 
fort and drilled for self defense. After ten days we returned to our 
home in peace and safety where we lived quietly and unmolested 
while the trouble lasted. Through all those fearful times to the 
praise of our God be it said we escaped unharmed and without per- 
sonal loss. One of our near neighbors, a Mr. Luthur Root, an east- 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 2 1 

em man while passing through Westport with his household 
goods was met by a band of border ruffians and was asked the us- 
ual question "Are you right on the goose." He answered them 
frankly and honestly when they at once seized upon, and unloaded 
his goods and rifled them then put a rope around his neck and gave 
him fifteen minutes to prepare for death. He pleaded with them 
for life for the sake of his wife and children, when one of the party 
relented and joined with him and they at last let him go. A Ken- 
tuckian had jumped the claim of one of my neighbors, a Free State 
man. I went with him at his request into the timber to expostu- 
late with the Kentuckian. I began speaking mildly with him but 
he turned upon me with an oath, raised his ax over my head and 
threatened to kill me if I did leave at once, which I did. 

These are instances of the spirit, the times and of the intoler- 
ance and violence of ruffianism with which we then had to contend 
and the enemy, who for the time being had the upperhand. But in 
the course of the summer of 1857 through the resoluteness of Gov. 
Geary the enemy made a virtue of necessity and ceased depreda- 
tions, and after that we had peace. Governor Geary afterwards 
became Major General and lost an arm in the civil war. The first 
season we spent in Kansas notwithstanding some scares was a 
charmed life for me. The weather was delightful, the crops on the 
sod were abundant and there was just enough political excitement 
for romance, and we all looked forward with high anticipations to 
a life that, alas, we were never to lead. The first winter dispelled 
our illusions. Instead, as we expected of almost perpetual spring, we 
had a cold stormy winter with snow lying on the ground six weeks, 
and as the years rolled on we found that Kansas was- not Paradise, 
or heaven on earth. 

During the winter of 1857-8 a revival burst upon us like a sum- 
mer shov\er from a cloudless sky. I had been preaching in the 
neighborhood and was about to pronounce the benediction, when a 
young man jumped to his feet and requested prayers, as I gave op- 
portunity for others, two more arose, all of whom were happily 
converted during the following night. They all met at our house 
the next morning happy in the Lord. One of them H. G. Lyons 
has been more than an ordinarily brave soldier of the cross and is 



22 Life and Times of Heo. J. Copeland. 

known throughout the county, and city of Topeka, as a very earnest 
faithful christian. Several years ago he published a small book on 
theology and christian practice accompanied by a chart illustrating 
the sentiments contained in the book. He has also published a chart 
on the names, the authors, the dates and the contents of the books 
of the Bible which is an important aid to Bible study. 

In the latter part of 1858, I commenced preaching in Clinton 
Kansas, and labored there and in Kanwaka with some out stations 
until 1864. In both places named there were Congregational 
churches and in both places we enjoyed precious revivals under the 
energetic labors of Rev. J. W. Fox. In Clinton the church was 
distracted for several years by a most unhappy case of discipline 
which greatly interfered with the spiritual growth and with suc- 
cessful christian efforts. ' During the last year of our residence at 
Clinton I received an invitation to become the pastor of the Con- 
gregational church at Wabaunsee, one of the most influential 
churches in the state, which under the circumstances I did not see tit 
to accept. We have ever regretted our dicision at that time and con- 
sidered it a mistake, although we had made arrangements for Mrs. 
C. and the eldest children Wm. E. and Francis R. to go to Oberlin 
for educational purposes, while I was to devote my time to the 
Freedmen in Leavenworth, and Kansas City. Clinton was situ- 
ated ten miles from Lawrence where the terrible Qnantrell massa- 
cre took place in August 1863. Early in the morning of that fate- 
ful day, rumors came that the ruffians were burning Lawrence, we 
went to the door and saw the smoke. I was requested to be ready 
with horse and gun in 30 minutes. After eating a hasty breakfast 
I jumped onto my horse with an old gun which I did not know 
how to handle and went with all the speed possible in company 
with several others to the scene of conflict. When we rode up the 
hill southwest of the City, we saw that the enemy had done their 
deadly work and were on the retreat. We could see the burning 
buildings, and hastened on. We found the business part of town 
in ruins, and the best of the residences in ashes. About 140 of the 
citizens, many of them prominent men lay weltering in their gore. 
1 spent the day in helping to pick up, and pull out of the tires and 
ashes the dead bodies and carry them to their homes or to the 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 23 

churches which were opened to receive them. I assisted in laying 
out some who were shot. About 100 were identified and buried 
by their friends in private or public cemeteries. On the following 
day I witnessed the burial of the bodies, bones and ashes of 39, 
not recognized. Their relics were placed in one long trench on 
burial hill South West of the City. 

I will here relate one or two instances out of the many which 
might be told, showing the character of these diabolical and des- 
perate men. Four prominent young married men were boarding, 
with their young wives, at one place. The gang, or a part of them 
rode up to the house and called for the men to come out, which of 
course they did not do. They then said if they would come out 
they should not be hurt. Fearing they might enter the house the 
young men went out, when they w T ere placed in a row and shot down. 
Three were instantly killed, but one of them fell with the rest and 
feigned himself dead, and at length escaped. Another young man 
a Probate Judge, was living with his young wife in his own home. 
The gang visited the place several times but were treated with so 
much courtesy that they left without violence. At length a posse 
inflamed by liquor came and began shooting at the young man. 
lie ran and they chased him and shot at every turn. He ran into 
the cellar and they chased him there. The blood stood in pools on 
the cellar floor, but he still had strength to get out of the cellar into 
the open air where lie fell from exhaustion, exertion and loss of blood. 
Here his wife sprang to him and covered him with her skirts. The 
demons lifted h.3r arm and fired a bullet into his head. Hj had 
given them his revolver his shawl and I think his watch. They 
then set the house on lire aud left. His wife and sister extin- 
guished the tire and saved her home. Hut enough of these horrors. 

From 1864 to 1868 I labored as missionary to the Freed men 
in Kansas City and other towns on the border between Kansas and 
Missouri. I superintended the schools which I established in var- 
ious places on the border, and also in Kansas City, preached, or- 
ganized churches and assisted the poor in burying their dead and 
in every way possible made myself useful to these dispised out- 
casts. We also did all we could to sustain the First Congregational 
Church of that city which was organized while I resided there and 



24 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copelaud. 

of which I was one of the original members. My wife taught a 
class in the Sabbath school and was at her post in the prayer meet- 
ing and all religious services of the Sabbath, besides teaching in 
the colored Sabbath School which was large and interesting. 

Our meetings were deeply devotional and numbers professed 
conversion. I will relate one remarkable case. A woman about 
30 years of age was convicted for a long time. She prayed almost 
incessantly day and night, but without relief. She felt that there 
was no hope for so great a sinner. She expected to be lost and 
that very soon. One night in the middle of the night she went 
out and laid herself down on the ground with hands folded upon 
her breast expecting every moment to sink to perdition. She cried 
out "Here Lord I give myself to Thee, 'tis all that I can do." In 
an instant her burden was gone. She felt as light as a feather 
and could scarcely tell whether she was walking or flying. She 
wanted to tell to all around what a dear Savior she had found. 

One night in our prayer meeting a mob gathered around the 
church determined to do me violence. One of the colored 
men, Uncle Jerry, came to me and said there was a mob of white 
men at the door and they were armed with pistols, and so were the 
colored men, and said he "If they tire I shall.'* "Do as you think 
best, Uncle Jerry" I replied, and we went on with the meeting 
for a while but at length the disturbance became so great that we 
closed the meeting. As we were passing out, 1 got opposite a win- 
dow when a volly of stones crushed through braking sash glass and 
all. At once every light in the house was extinguished, the bell 
begin to ring and the women to scream. I stepped into a corner 
and stood there a few moments. Then went to the door. All was 
still. The whole crowd had dispersed and scampered away. A 
panic seemed to have seized them and they fled, illustrating the 
proverb "The wicked flee when no man pursueth." One evening 
as I went on my w T ay to the regular Thursday evening prayer meet- 
ing one of the members met me and said "Brother C. you mint not 
go to meeting to-night for the secesh have threatened to kill you." 
I hesitated a little then said to myself. "Should such a man as I 
flee? I have come here to feed Christ's lambs and I will go." I 
went and told those brethren and sisters that the safest place in 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 25 

all the universe was in the midst of a band of praying christians. 
There if anywhere the everlasting arms were round about, and an- 
gel guards were hovering round. 

Uncle Jerry's wife, Aunt Patsy, was a good cook, and every 
Thursday evening after the close of the meeting she took me to her 
house where she had prepared a dainty repast for me before 1 took 
my walk of four miles home, to Kansas City. I remained four 
years in this work and they were the most interesting years of my 
life, and ended my labors with the colored people. 

In 1808 we removed to Eureka, Greenwood County, Kansas 
where we spent one year and organized the Congregational Church 
at that place. This church has since become a strong and active 
church. Soon after going to Eureka I met with a very narrow escape 
from death by drowning I went to the meeting of our Association on 
horse back, and on my way was delayed by a sudden shower of rain. 
Being in haste and not acquainted with the stream, I attempted to 
cross Dry Creek but found the depth greater than I thought, and 
was carried down by the current. But being a good swimmer I 
got to some drift wood and hung there, holding on to my horse 
until he w T as swept under entangled and lost. The pony was not 
my own, and cost me 875. But God spared my life for which I 
was devoutly thankful. The year 1860 was one long to be remem- 
bered by the early settlers of Kansas as the "Famine year," and the 
intense suffering which would have resulted was relieved and pre- 
vented by the kind liberality of eastern friends. The winter suc- 
ceeding the drought was unusually mild, thus fulfilling the adage 
" God tempers the blast to the shorn lamb." AVe were then re- 
ceiving liberal aid from the missionary society and did not suffer. 

In 1869 we left Eureka and went to Augusta, Butler County, 
the county adjoining Greeuwood on the west. I was one of the 
first, if not the first minister in the county and at one time had 10 
appointments traveling 40 miles from one extremity to the other. 
I was however liberally supported by the Home Missionary Socie- 
ty who had gotten over their fear of heresy, and Oberlin perfect- 
ionism and paid me as high as six or seven hundred doliars a year 
with the privilege of getting what I could from the people. I had 
previously for 11 years been sustained by the American Missionary 



26 .Life and 1'imes of Rev. J. Gopeland. 

Association but on leaving Kansas City the Home Missionary So- 
ciety took me up and liberally supported me. 

I preacbed tbe first sermon ever preached on the Little Wal- 
nut near where the smart little town of Leon now stands. At the 
close of my sermon a Mr. M. took my hand slipped a 85. bill into 
it saying as he did so "If we could have preaching regularly it 
would increase the value of our lands one dollar an acre." "Yes," 
said I, "the gospel doubtless increases in a ten-fold prop >rlion the 
value of our homes and all other property." Who would take as a 
gift the richest estate that the sun shines upon where the gospel is 
not known! As the comity grew I restricted my appointments to 
two points, viz. Augusta and Douglas two thriving young towns 
12 miles distant from each other. I labored in these places until 
1874. I organized the Congregational Church of Augusta and 
Douglas the latter of which still exists in a flourishing condition. 
The former has changed to a Presbyterian church but so far as T 
know is prospering. There were some conversions in both these 
places. Our youngest son Charles F. was converted in Douglas, 
standing up alone in the large congregation and professing 
Christ when but a little boy, and I recollect of then havinginade the 
remark that I would rather he would be a christian than a million- 
aire. That son when about 10 years of age, was almost ciiracu- 
loiisly restored in an instant from a congestive chill which threat- 
ened to piove fatal. The spasms caused by the chill lasted hours 
from 2 to 11 P. M. My wife and I were watching with him alone. 
The Dr. had been sent for and did what he could and left with a 
few directions not doubting but he would return to consciousness 
in a short time. But hour after hour passed and still the stupor 
of unconsciousness remained unbroken. About 1 1 o'clock seeing 
no change and having done all we could, we knelt and unitedly 
commended him to the care of the Great Physician and asked 
to be directed what to do. During the prayer it was sug- 
gested to me to try a warm bath. We arose and immediately pre- 
pared a general warm bath. He was still rigid and we had t > 
stand him up in a tub of water and swash the water over him, but 
the effect was instantaneous. With one long drawn breath his 
consciousness returned, his rigidity gave way and he was himself 



Life and Times of lieu. J. Oopeland. -21 

4gain. Who shall say that God did not answer prayers? The Dr. 
seemed much surprised that he did not recover sooner. I must 
put on rcord the summary execution of law by Judge Lynch, while 
livinu' in Augusta. Horse stealing had become almost intolerable 
in t'.ie Walnut Valley, not less than 300 horses having disappeared 
in one vear and other things were being missed by the citizens. 
It was becoming unsafe for a person to enquire after stolen g< ods 
of any kind. The citizens became aware that something must be 
done to remedy this state of things, or they must abandon their 
homes. The honest men from two or three adjacent counties 
organized a vigilance committee called the "Vigilantes," with head- 
quarters at Douglas and immediately commenced investigation. 
They were not long in learning who were the leaders of the des- 
peradoes, and found that an extensive organization existed among 
whom were many in respectable standing in Douglas and surround- 
ing towns. The Vigilantes were no cowards and took prompt and 
vigorous action, and as a result eight men were disposed of, five by 
hanging and three were shot in trying to escape. One of the mer- 
chants of Douglas and his clerk were hung and I was called up >n 
to conduct funeral services, which I did. It was found that the 
gang had the law in their own hands and could clear one another 
if attempts were made to bring any of them to justice. I hap- 
pened to be in Douglas on the night of the hanging but of course 
knew nothing of the terrible tragedy until the next morning. 
That finished the business of horse stealing, scattered and dis- 
} erseJ the gang, and relieved Walnut Valley of marauders, which re- 
mains so to the present time. I preached a sermon in vindication 
of the act which was published in the Augusta paper and the public 
sentiment of the county fully sustained me. Lynching, under the cir- 
cumstances was the only method of executing the law and protecting 
the honor of law abiding citizens. 

In 18T."> we removed to Dunlap Iowa, where we remained four 
years, the first two I was pastor of the Congregational church of D. 
and the last two was pastor of the Shelbyville church preaching al- 
so at some places in the country. I found the Dunlap church in a 
low spiritual state. They had never enjoyed a revival of religion. 
They worshiped in an unfinished dilapidated church in the out- 



28 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copdand. 

skirts of the town. Surely here was work for an earnest faithful man 
of God. There was not life enough in the church to sustain a 
church prayer meeting. A very small union prayer meeting was 1 
believe kept up. There were however some praying ones, and I 
went hopefully to work and as a result of my first year's labors, 
through the blessing of God, and to him be all the praise, there oc- 
curred one of the most wonderful revivals I had ever witnessed, 
and refreshing from on high, which revolutionized the church and 
and the entire place. There were 100 conversions and the church 
was doubled in numbers and ability and also in efficiency. Some 
of the best business men were converted and brought into the 
church. This enabled the church during the second year to erect a 
beautiful and commodious edifice in the center of the town for the 
worship of Him who had been their helper. I will here give one 
or two instances of conversion which occurred there during that 
revival. George W. Thompson a banker, and a successful business 
man, was a skeptic. During the early meetings which began with 
the week of prayer and lasted ten weeks, he seemed indifferent, but 
as they progressed he came in occasionally and would some- 
times get up and speak. I remember one evening hearing him talk 
thus: "I cannot understand these things. Here are my neighbors 
whose word I would believe on every other subject telling how they 
feel on this. I never had any such experience and I cannot believe 
or understand them." Still as the meeting progressed he manifest- 
ed uneasiness and would seem irritable when conversed with a A ,d 
was fequently heard to say that "he thought no more of Jesus 
Christ than he did of a basswood tree." There were some how- 
ever who carried his case earnestly to the Throne of Grace and 
perserveringly prayed for his salvation. One Saturday evening as 
there was no meeting he commenced reading one of Mr. Moody's 
sermons. The spirit of God carried a thought home, and he ex- 
claimed "Lord if you mean me and want to save me, I assent here I 
am, I accept the pardon offered," and fell upon his knees. At once 
he found himself praising God, he got up and went out, and the 
stars and every thing he saw was praising God. He then under- 
stood the testimony of christians when they gave their experiences 
of the love of Christ in their hearts. The next morning, Sabbath, 



Life on J Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 29 

lie came with his family early to ehnrcta and as soon as the bene- 
diction was pronounced came to the desk to speak with me exclaim- 
ing -I have found Jesus," then leaned his head on the desk and 
burst into tears. The scene that followed is beyond discription. 
Some threw their arms around each others necks exclaiming' "thank 
(lnd" while all shook hands with each other, and every body with 
him in particular, and all went home rejoicing. He expressed a de- 
sire to join the church at once that he might put on the harness 
and go to work for Jesus. lie remained bright, active, zealous and 
happy, all through the revival and as long as we knew him. C." D. 
Mitchel was another bright convert in that revival. He was one of 
the leading merchants of the place. For weeks he had been anx- 
ious but not e mverted. One night he came home from the county 
seat, where he was attending court, in order to be present at the 
meeting. It so happened that there was no preaching that evening 
and the. meeting had no special interest for him. lie went home 
disappointed and distressed. His wife was also inquiring the way 
of salvation. They retired to rest but not to sleep. They talked 
over the situation and agreed to consecrate themselves to Christ. 
They arose about midnight, knelt beside their bed and made the 
consecration and arose from their knees saved, and became from 
that time interesting active and devoted christians. 

The winter following this revival I saw great need of mission- 
ary work in the country round about Dunlap. The Mormons had 
overspread the region and left their baneful influence everywhere 
unristian ministers had forsaken the field and there was a desperate 
state of s juiety even among those who did not sympathize with the 
Mormons. I held meetings in four different school districts and the 
hou>es were so packed that I found it difficult at times to get in to 
my place. The mothers came with their babes and when they 
cried th -y were sometimes passed out of the window to the father 
standing outside. They had no one to sing nor did they know ain 
hymns to sing. I took my youngest daughter Annie E. then a girl 
ot lo from school got the use of an organ and soon the gospel 
hymns went ringing everywhere throughout that deserted and God 
forsaken region. It did not take long for the people to catch the 
music and enjov it. There was a dance hall in one neighborhood 



30 TJfe and Times of jRev. J. Copelmid. 

which I obtained the use of* and held a protracted meeting there with 
much success. The result of these meetings were the organization 

© o 

of the Shelbyville church. This work was done without neglecting 
my work in the Dunlap church of which I was pastor. Some of 
the brethern of the Dunlap church would sometimes till my place 
on Sabbath and also at other times. The Dunlap brethern went 
out in various directions on Sabbath holding meetings or superin- 
tending Sabbath Schools in the school districts round about. My 
wife and daughter Annie rode four miles and conducted a Sabbath 
School each Sabbath in the afternoon for about three years. 

But I was now about 60 years of age, the Dunlap church had 
dedicated their new edifice and wanted a new man, and a young 
one to occupy the new pulpit. They secured one fresh from the 
Chicago Theological Seminary and I devoted my energies to the 
country about Shelbyville leaving my family still in Dunlap where 
they remained during the next two year.-. This wa-* my last reg- 
ular charge. I had passed the dead line and the churches had no 
further use for* old men. I made no further efforts to serve the 
churches as a pastor. Some fields were open but they were such as 
would not and could not give me a support, and my wife and fam- 
ily had shared my trials and in justice to them I turned to other 
ways of securing a livelihood. My work seems to have been that 
of laying foundations for others to build upon, which I trust have 
been solid and substantial, and I am content and hope my life has 
not been a failure. 

I must not in connection with my Dunlap labors fail to record 
an interesting and important work done by my wife, after my pas- 
torate closed. She was instrumental in organizing a Band of Hope 
in which nearly all the children both Catholic and Protestant par- 
ticipated. Such was the interest that the church in which they 
met was usually filled with the parents of the children and other 
citizens of the place. The meetings were held every two weeks at 
which dialogues and other temperance pieces were recited and such 
was the pride and attachment of the children to their society, that 
they could not be satisfied with a single postponment of a meeting 
As Mrs. C. was the main one in training the children the labor was 
verv exhausting and her health suffered in consequence but she 



Life and Times of lieu. J. Copeland. 31 

has ever been glad that the work was done and hopes that seed was 
then sown which will spring up and bear much fruit hereafter. 

About the year 1880 I left Iowa and returned to Kansas and in 
18>r9 I located my claim in Baca county Colorado, declaring my in- 
tention to make that my permanent residence. Much of the time 
siice 1880 1 have spent in canvassing for books in Kansas and Col- 
orado. I have worked three years for the American Bible Associ- 
ation and twoyearsfor Use American Tract Association, besides sell- 
ing a variety of popular and useful subscription books. Have sold 
hundreds of pictorial bibles and thousands of plain ones, besides 
great numbers of testaments and other good books. I have a pas- 
sion for books and love to sell them to the people. I have met 
with various success, fluctuations in this as in all other kinds of 
business but on the whole I trust my years have been usefully spent. 

As a christian citizen I have ever been interested in politics. 
True politics I regard as a branch of Christianity, an application of 
the law of love. I distinguish between the dirty waters of the devil's 
politics flowing from the corrupt fountain of supreme selfishness 
and the pure waters of God's politics flowing from the bible and 
love to God. I feel as much bound to be a politician of the right 
stamp as to be a christian. The bible is full of politics and as a 
minister of Christ 1 feel as much bound to take an interest in, and 
to preach politics as other important truths contained in God's word. 
My first vote for president was for James G. Birney, of the Liberty 
party, in 1840 and 1814. T.iis party never came into power, but 
was merged into the Free-Soil party, with J. C. Freemont as its can- 
didate in 1856, and into the Republican party in I860. I sustained 
the Republican party for 24 years, because it was the party for free- 
dom, the party of justice and progress, and morality and humanity. 
The Republican party did a great and noble and patriotic work. It 
fulfilled its mission and long may its principles? and deeds be cher- 
ished in i he hearts of the American people. But its work is done. 
Those principles are no longer an issue with the people, and no par- 
ty can live, or ought to live, on dead issues. We are not living in 
the dead and hurried past but in the glorious and living piv-ci t 
Other issues loom up before us and demand the attentien of the 
patriot, the philanthropist and the christian. In 1884 I sustained 



32 Life and Times of Her . J. Copeland. 

the Prohibition part)' with John P. St. John as its leader, and in 
1888 with Fisk at its mast-head. That party was not a mere exper- 
iment, not a mere ideal or visionary party. It was in some of the 
states, in Maine, in Vermont, in Iowa, in Kansas, in Atlanta, Ga., 
an actual, a practical and a glorious success. Xo honest, intelligent 
and well-informed person will deny this. Whoever has read care- 
fully the N Y. Voice, the leading organ of the Prohibition party, 
knows that this assertion is true, and it is devoutly to be hoped that 
the principles of that party will one day rule this nation, lint pro- 
hibition is not the leading and the burning issue before tbe Ameri- 
can people of to-day. r \ ne absorbing political issue for the present 
and the near future is the money question. The chains of chattel 
slavery have been stricken from the limbs of four millions of Afri- 
can slaves, but the more galling chains of wage slavery arc now be- 
ing forged and fastened upon sixty-live millions of American citi- 
zens. The money power is the great "Red Dragon 1 ' of the Apoca- 
lypse with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on their 
heads. This power located on Lombard street, London, Wall street 
New York, and other great money centers, is trampling down an i 
crushing out the freedom of the American people. Money is ti.e 
most formidable power that can be conceived for l\\j weal or w<>e 
of the human race. It can raise the masses of society to the iiigjie.^t 
pinnacle of prosperity or sink them to the lowest depths of adversi- 
ty. The money power is the magician's wand that can create or 
destroy at pleasure. It can transform society into Paradise or Pan- 
demonium by the simple fiat of its will. To carry the purse ;s to 
wield the scepter and the sword of the nation. The money power 
in the hands of selfish, greedy and grasping men is the most mere- 
less and heartless of tyrants. It is the direst scourge and curse that 
can befall a nation. This is the power that now controls the nation. 
Ffty years ago the nation while in form, a free and republican gov- 
ernment was to all intents and purposes a slaveocracy. The slave 
power controlled all departments of the government, lien the 
most blighting of all national evils. It was the millstone ah >ut 
the neck of the nation that was fast sinking in to perdition. Tnat 
power thank God is forever broken. Now we are a plutocracy. 
Money is the supreme power of the nation. Wall street and not 



Life and Times of llev. J. Copeland. 33 

Washington is the seat of our government. Society is being rap- 
idly divided into two classes, millionaires and paupers. The wealth 
of the nation is being concentrated into fewer and fewer hands, 
while the masses of laboring people are being robbed and spoiled, 
impoverished and enslaved. 

Against this usurpation and enslavement the free intelligent 
and patriotic yeomanry are rising up and protesting and claiming 
the rights thus wrested from them as never before. We are on 
the eve of one of the greatest revolutions that the world has ever 
witnessed, a revolution in comparison with which the American 
Revolution sinks into insignificance. God grant it may be a rev- 
olution of ballots and not of bullets. It is to be hoped that there 
is virtue enough in the American people to save us from the hor- 
rors of another French revolution. I freely and frankly say that 
I have enlisted in this war to serve during life or to the end of the 
war. I have read extensively on the subject of finance during the 
past three years; have read several large volumes, many pamphlets, 
and speeches in Congress and all the newspaper articles within my 
reach, and I believe I am reasonably well informed on the whole 
subject, and the result of my honest investigations is that I am fully 
committed to the cause of the people against the money power. I 
do not endorse all the men or the measures of the great Peoples' 
movement, but the main principles, and the cause, are of God and 
must prevail. The party may not now be in existence, that shall 
crush this mighty despotism, and deliver this nation, but the same 
God that raised up Moses to deliver his ancient people with mighty 
signs and wonders, still lives, and reigns, and he will surely break 
in pieces the rod of the oppressor and this nation will be redeemed, 
regenerated and saved. 

1 must now revert to my beloved children of whom little has yet 
been said in this narrative, and should my statements seem over- 
wrought the reader will make due allowance for parental love and 
partiality. We have four living children and one in heaven, little 
Gertrude, an infant daughter of nine months old we hurried in Clin- 
ton Kansas in 1859, nearly 35 years ago. Wm. E. our eldest son 
• was born in Lebanon, New York, January 13, 184(3. He has a good 
education, spent three years in college at Oberlin, Ohio, and took a 



34 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 

thorough business course at a commercial college in Kansas City. 
He is an intelligent reader of current and political news, is a staunch 
republican in politics, and a strict temperance man. For 25 years 
he has been a thrifty farmer and stock raiser in Greenwood County, 
Kansas, and is a model of industry and economy, honesty and in- 
tegrity. He is, I believe, universally respected in the town and 
county in which he lives. His wife was Miss Angelina Root, 
daughter of Luther Root, of whom mention has been previously 
made in this narrative and who was one of the staunch and worthy 
pioneers of Northeastern Kansas, in the stormy days of 1856 — 57. 
Angie is of an amiable disposition, easy and fluent in conversation, 
affable and engaging in manners; has tine intellectual tastes and is 
a voracious reader of English literature. She is a devoted wife and 
mother, is a regular attendant and works in church and Sabbath 
school, and a consistent member of the Episcopal church. They 
have three intelligent and interesting daughters, Jennie June, Bes- 
sie Frances and Nellie Angelene. They are good scholars, energetic 
wide awake girls, and will in time no d.mbt make their mark in so- 
ciety. The eldest is about 12 years of age and shows much ingen- 
uity in needle work for one of her years. 

Charles F. our second son and youngest child, is the school- 
teacher of the family. He has a good English education and has 
always carried a No. 1 A. grade certificate. He has taught nine 
successive terms in Kansas and Colorado. After leaving Kansas 
he went back at the earnest request of the people twice, and taught 
four successive seasons in the same school. He has taught success- 
fully in some of the best schools in Baca County where he now re- 
sides. He is a prohibitonist in politics and will not sacrifice his 
principles for the best office in the gift of the people. As a son 
he is kind and respectful, as a neighbor obliging, as a citizen be- 
nevolent, and as a christian active and zealous. He is a good 
writer, and when throughly prepared speaks ably and well. He 
has a great desire to be useful which he cannot fail to be. with his 
high sense of honor, sunny disposition and sterling principles. 
His wife, nee Nettie Know! ton is a devoted and affectionate wife a 
good housekeeper and professing christian. She is greatly at- 
tached to her family friends, especially her mother. J^Her father's 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 35 

family are well known in Baca County as among the most honest 
industrious and high minded families in the county. 

Our eldest daughter Frances R. is the wife of S. M. Biggs, late 
of Kansas but now a resident of Durango Colorado. She excels 
in music both vocal and instrumental. She was three years in 
Oberlin college and a member of the musical conservatory under 
the instructions of Professors Rice and Morgan, one of whom was 
educated in Germany, the other I think in Boston. They both 
stood high as teachers of music. She is perfectly at home on the 
piano or organ, in the church choir or musical entertainment, ren- 
ders anthems with ease and impressiveness. She has served the 
church both with voice and instrument from her girlhood. She is 
a most affectionate daughter and scarcely a week passes that she 
does not write to her parents. She is quite an extensive reader of 
modern literature. 

Our son-in-law, S. M. Biggs, has always been prominent in bus- 
iness and political circles. He is a veteran of the army of our civil 
war, and his temperate and good moral habits so preserved his 
health as to render him unfitted for a pensioner so he receives 
none. Has served Greenwood county Kansas eight years as sur- 
\eyor. He is now a member of the Biggs Lumber Company, 
which owns and runs large mills in the mountains of Xew Mexico, 
and before the financial depression and loss of 840,000 or 850,000 
by hie, the company were doing a large and very profitable busi- 
ness, which we hope and expect will be resumed after the ides of 
1896. Mr. Biggs is an earnest and active republican, generous ai d 
kind to his friends and interested in public affairs, ever ready to do 
his part in all works of benevolence. lie is one of the proprietors 
of the Southwestern Republican of Durango. Mr. and Mrs. Biggs 
have two interesting daughters, Bertha and Eva Myrtle, just bloom- 
ing into womanhood, both lovely and accomplished and we trust 
both striving to emulate the virtues and graces of their mother. 
Little Homer Biggs ten years of age already begins to make his 
mark as a boy of unusual promise. His grandparents anticipate 
much from his future. The daughters are active christains and 
earnestly engaged in Christain Endeavor work. 

Annie E. our youngest daughter, is of a somewhat retiring dis- 



3G Life and Times of lit c. J. Copeland. 

position and none but her most intimate friends know her real 
worth. The fact that she is our home child is evidence of the es- 
timation in which she is held by her parents. Like her sister she 
excels in music. Her execution both in singing and playing is uni- 
versally admired by good judges, She is equal to almost any 
emergency being sometimes called to sing and play on public oc- 
casions on very short notice or none at all, but never makes a fail- 
ure. She has taught music from the age of 17 with no complaints 
that we know of. She is kind and attentive to her parents, antici- 
pating their wants and supplying them so far as in her power. 
She loves to read and will do so if she sits up nights to accomplish 
it. She is generous and obliging to friends and foes alike but is 
liable to be misjudged for lack of confidence. 

Her husband, Rev. J. V. Watson, is a most zealous and earn- 
est M. E preacher and has had phenomenal success in evangelistic 
work during the past winter. He is quick and active and not 
afraid or ashamed to engage in manual labor if eircn instances re- 
quire it. He is not an admirer of the "lilly white hand" of the sed- 
entary imbecile. He has the perfect confidence and unbounded 
love of those among whom he has labored so successfully in revival 
work. He respects the humble laborers and aims to do good to all 
classes of society. He is amiable in disposition, unsuspicious, gen- 
erous and kind. He is fond of good reading and studies his bible 
very industriously. Is a good bible scholar. Mr. and Mrs. Wat- 
son have two promising little boys aged three and a half and tw<». 
They are both unusually active and mischievous but bright and in- 
telligent children and their grandparents love them very dearly. 

In conclusion I may say that "goodness and mercy have fol- 
lowed me all the days of my life," and I trust in the same goodness 
and mercy to the end. I know in whom I have believed and He 
will not fail me in the trying hour and while I am painfully con- 
scious of many mistakes, errors, follies and sins, I trust that the 
blood of Christ will wash all my sins away and mike my soul 
"whiter than snow." I commend all my dear children and grand- 
children, all my personal friends, and the cause of Christ that I 
love more than all else, to my covenant-keeping God, knowing and 
realizing that thev are forever safe in His hands, and it is mv ar- 



Life and Times of Rev. J. CopeUind. 37 

dent hope and prayer that we all, grandparent?, children, and 
grandchildren may be bound in the bonds of everlasting life ai d 
love, and may all meet in that better land where parting shall bo 
no more. 



The following are a few of the poems I have written 



Christmas Carol. 

Methinks I hear th'angelic legions, 
On this merry Christmas morn, 
Descending from the Heavenly regions, 
Singing, shouting, Christ is born! 
Hark, Hark, O hear the song celestial, 
Bursting from the azure sky, 
It rings thro' all the lands terrestrial, 
Glory be to God on high! 

Pardon, peace and life eternal, 
Through the blest Immanuel's name, 
Proclaming from the Throne Supernal, 
Glory, glory, to the Lamb! 
Good will to men henceforth forever, 
From the shining courts above, 
Salvation flows a mighty river, 
Glory to the God of love. 



Easter Hymn. 

Tis' Easter morn the Lord is risen, 
Lo, the rock is rolled away, 
He bursts the bars of Death's dark prison, 
Ring the bells of Heaven to-day. 

Lo, while the Roman guards are sleeping 
Round the Savior's rocky tomb, 



38 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copelund. 

And the disciples all are weeping, 
Filled with sorrow, fear and gloom. 

He rises from the dead immortal, 
Clothed with pure celestial light, 
While all around from Heaven's high portal, 
Angels stand in dazzling white. 

Dry up your tears begone your sadness, 
Let your hearts be filled with cheer, 
Put on your robes of joy and gladness, 
Christ is risen He is not here. 

He lives forever king of glory, 
Lives and reigns no more to die, 
Go tell abroad the wonderous story, 
Jesus is gone up on high. 

Jesus the mighty conqueror hveth, 
Savior, comforter and friend, 
And he that on His name believeth, 
Liveth evermore, Amen. 



Job's War Horse. 

Who gave the horse his strength and fire? 
Who clothed his neck with thunder dire? 
The martial steed that hastes to battle? 
Amid the storm of war's wild rattle? 
Canst thou inspire his soul with fear? 
Will he turn back when danger's near? 
Grasshopper-like is he afraid? 
Or will he quail like timid maid? 
He laughs at danger, mocks at fear, 
He rushes on the uplifted spear, 
He paws the valley in his pride, 
Terrific are his nostrils wide, 
He plunges to the thickest battle, 
As 'gainst him doth the quiver rattle, 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 39 

The flashing spear and javelin, 
With all the noise of war's wild din, 
In rage he swallowth the ground, 
Exulteth at the bugle's sound, 
Among the trumpets saith ha ha, 
He snuffs the battle from afar, 
He hears with exultation high, 
The thunder of the battle cry. 



Chenango. 

Chenango I love thee, thy hills and thy vales, 
Thy beautiful groves, and thy freshinfng gales, 
Thy rivers, soft flowing the willows between, 
Each morning bright glistening in silvery sheen. 

Thine orchards all laden and bending with gold, 
Thy oaks and tall pines that never grows old, 
Thy pastures of green upon the hill side, 
Where the flocks and the herds securely abide. 
Ah , yes, I see now where the neat cottage stood, 
The hillside behind it, the green shady wood, 
The door-yard in front where the apple trees grew, 
The lilac, the peony, the violet blue. 

Hard by flowed a beautiful sparkling rill, 
Refreshing and cool leaping down from the hill, 
And murmuring along in the shade of the trees, 
Sweet music it made in the soft evening breeze. 

T'was there the first years of my infancy flew, 
How sweet were the joys that my childhood then 

knew, 
How happy the hours of my innocent joy, 
The sports and the pastimes of a merry boy. 

Oh, well I remember the family band, 

The parents with children arranged on each hand, 

Where sisters and brothers and mothers and sire, 



40 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 

Oft' gathered around the bright evening fire. 

How oft' have I listened with childish delight, 
To the tales of my mother from morning till night, 
How oft' have reclined my wearisome head, 
O'er her lap, till my troubles and sorrows have fled. 

How oft' have I walked with my two sisters sweet, 
Each morning to school, our companions to greet, 
At evening returning, we culled the gay flowers, 
Thus laughing and sporting we passed the bright 
hours. 

But dearest and sweetest the thought is to me, 
That at morning and evening we all bowed the 

knee, 
When our father would read from the book of 

inspiration. 
And offer our morning and evening oblation. 

T'was then I first knew a beautiful maiden, 
With blossoming lips and blue eyes love laden, 
'Twas then I first felt the ravishing flame, 
And on my young heart love's witchery came. 

O maiden sweet maiden, I think of thee yet, 
Tho' many a year has flown by since we met, 
Tho' furrowed thy cheek and wrinkled thy brow, 
In thy youth and thy beauty I think of thee now. 

But those days and those years on swift pinions 

have flown, 
They now only live in fond memory alone, 
Our circle is broken and snapt is the tie, 
That bound us together in union so nigh. 

Our sister Rebecca first yielded her breath, 
To the stern summons of the messenger death, 
She was snatched from the arms of a husband 

most dear, 
After a loving union of one fleeting year. 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copelanil. 4 1 

And then our dear father passed peacefully away, 
In the churchyard in Sherburne we laid his cold 

clay, 
Peace, peace to his ashes no change may they know 
Until the last trumpet of Gabriel shall blow. 

And mother dear mother to Kansas we bore, 
With tottering footsteps and heart rent and sore, 
For she longed with her consort to make her last 

bed, 
And many the tears which her weeping eyes shed. 

Chenango farewell, all ye loved ones farewell, 
I hope soon with you all and the angels to dwell, 
Where sickness and sorrow and weeping and pain, 
Shall visit us never, no never again. 



All Original Poem. 

Read at Springfield, Colo , July 4th, 1S90. By 
.7. Cor>elan<l. 



All hail, auspicious, glorious morn, 

When Freedom, heavenly maid, was born! 
We gladly welcome thy return, 

With patriot fire our bosoms burn; 
To thee, on this, thy natal day, 

We dedicate our humble lay. 
We bring a garland, .goddess fair, 

To deck thy bright and shining hair; 
We weave a chaplet here and now 

To deck thy proud and peerless brow. 
Let joy be unconfined to-day; 

Let mirth and gladness have their way; 
O ring the bells, let cannon roar, 

Resounding loud from shore to shore. 
Lift up the voice, O shout and sing; 

With thunders let the welkin ring! 
With songs triumphant, rend the air, 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 

And glad hosannas everywhere. 
O Liberty! of thee we boast, 

And sound thy praises from coast to coast; 
Thy banner bright, the stripes and stars 

We wave to-day with loud huzzas! 
Our fathers (blest their memories be,) 

Here planted Freedoms goodly tree, 
Which now hath grown so vastly grand, 

Its spreading branches fill the land, 
And underneath its grateful shade, 

A nation hath its dwelling made. 
They could not brook the galling chain, 

They would not dwell where tyrants reign, 
They left their own, their native land, 

To seek an unknown, distant strand; 
They braved the ocean's stormy wave 

For Conscience sake, their souls to save; 
They sought beyond the briny deep, 

Where Truth and Freedom they might keep, 
And here amid the howling waste, 

Amid these desolation vast, 
While winter winds around them roared, 

And all beyond laid unexplored, 
And savage foes were lurking near 

And filled their souls with dread and fear, 
They boldly planted Freedom's tree 

And raised the banner of the free. 
That banner bright, long may it wave, 

Our country and our land to save! 
When Britain in her power and might, 

Trampled on Justice, Truth and Right, 
And when she spurned our rightous cause, 

Denied us fair and equal laws, 
When to our prayers she turned deaf ear, 

And our petitions would not hear, 
And drove us, suppliant, from the throne, 

And left us in our chains to groan, 



Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 43 

O, then it was our noble sires, 

Burning with patriotic fires, 
'IVas then they nobly, grandly rose 

A nl bade defiance to their foes, 
Their banners lifted high in air 

And in God's name did boldly swear 
"We will ii) longer bow the knee 

To despots. Xo! We will be free!" 
And then the storm of war arose; 

T.iey battled bravely with their foes, 
For seven long years the contest raged, 

On many a bloody field engaged, 
And in their van, earth's noblest son, 

The great immortal Washington. 
Great Chief! Thy name we venerate; 

Thy country's hero, good as great! 
At length they did the st:>rm outride, 

And Victory perched on Freedom's side. 
Sweet Peace her downy wing out-spread, 

And wept her country's glorious dead. 
Ye mighty dead! Ye heros all, 

Who rallied at your country's call, 
We pause to shed a heart-felt tear 

Upon your sad and bloody bier, 
And scatter flowers and sweet perfume 

And watch around your hallowed tomb. 
Ye freely gave your blood and treasure 

Unto your country without measure; 
Ye have achieved immortal fame. 

And won the martyr's glorious name; 
Ye are em oiled among the braves 

Who sleep in patriots' honored graves. 
May we, your sons, as bravely fight 

For Truth, Humanity and right, 
As nobly strive as firmly stand 

For God and Home and Native land. 
Another foe is in the field, 



44 Life and Times of Rev. J. Copeland. 

Then gird we on tbe sword and shield. 
King Alcohol has thousands slain, 

His victims strewn o'er land and main. 
What countless myriads hath he led 

To ruin, misery and the dead; 
What blasted hopes of sons and brothers, 

What broken hearts of wives and mothers; 
What floods of tears hath made to flow! 

With pain and sorrow, grief and woe! 
This enemy of God and man, 

With all his cursed, infernal clan, 
With head upreared, doth stalk abroad 

And bid defiance to man and God. 
Doth wield the scepter, rule the nation! 

O, depth of shameful degradation! 
Degenerate sons of noble sires, 

Where burn those patriotic fires? 
Children of those so good and great, 

To lick the dust at Bacchus' feet! 
This tyrant must and shall be slain. 

As God doeth live and Jesus reign! 
Must be consigned to endless night, 

Ten thousand fathoms from the light. 
The marshalled hosts from near and far 

Are gathering for the Holy War, 
Are girding on the sword and shield, 

And rushing to the bloodless field, 
And sure as God ond Truth shall stand, 

Shall Temperance take and rule the land. 
We yet shall reap the glad fruition 

Of Universal Prohibition. 
Then rouse ye free men, one and all, 

O, hasten at your country's call, 
Come join the army of the Lord, 

Put on your armor, gird your sword 
To fight the battles of the free, 

For God and Home and Liberty. 



A BRIEF SKETCH 

—OF THE— 

LIFE a n d TIMES, 

— AND— 
MISCELLANEOUS WEITINGS 

— OF— 



SPRINGFIELD, COLORADO, 
SEPTEMBER, 1894. 



